Tua Tagovailoa is again. So are Dolphins proprietor Steve Ross and former Dolphins coach Brian Flores. So, for that matter, are the 1972 Dolphins on their fiftieth anniversary.
It’s a giant evening on a nationwide stage – the one prime-time recreation for the Dolphins this 12 months. So the way to rejoice with a win? Here are 5 methods for it to occur:
1. Protect Tua Tagovailoa and get offense going. The Dolphins get again their quarterback after just a few dramatic and scary weeks. Now this offense wants to come back alive in a fashion it hasn’t this season apart from one electrical quarter in Baltimore. Beyond that four-touchdown quarter, this offense hasn’t scored greater than 17 factors it did in opposition to the New York Jets by any sensible measure regardless of the quarterback (the protection had a landing in opposition to New England and recovered a fumble on the 6-yard line in opposition to Buffalo). The first order is defending Tua. That sounds basic contemplating his concussion problems with late. Pittsburgh will current some issues right here. Remember Tom Brady screaming at his offensive line on the sideline final Sunday? That’s as a result of Pittsburh’s defensive linemen Craig Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi had their method with the inside of Tampa Bay’s offensive line. Heyward and Ogunjobi mixed for seven pressures, three hurries, three hits and a sack in opposition to Brady. Liam Eichenberg, at proper guard, has struggled massive chunks of this 12 months and Heyward shall be a handful. No doubt heart Connor Williams will present assist, however within the bigger scheme Pittsburgh’s 3-4 protection didn’t ship greater than 4 rushers as soon as in opposition to Tampa Bay. Its line has figured the way to play with out T.J. Watt and succeed. This Dolphins line and Tua want a prime recreation.
2. Clean up the turnovers and penalties. Look, getting Tagovailoa again helps this offense and will get every little thing again on observe. But the loss in opposition to Minnesota wasn’t as a result of quarterback. Skylar Thompson seemed good earlier than his harm, however on one drive the encompassing workforce had 5 penalties and two drops. Teddy Bridgewater got here in and struggled early however have a look at his fourth-quarter numbers: 15 of 17 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a 133 ranking. The downside was the Dolphins misplaced the turnover battle, 3-0, and had 10 penalties for 97 yards to Minnesota’s two for 20 yards. The earlier week they misplaced the turnover battle, 2-0, and had 11 penalties for 102 yards within the loss in opposition to the Jets. Over this three-game shedding streak they’ve had eight turnovers and never created a single one. Those are big-time shedding numbers. They have to be cleaned up regardless of who performs quarterback.
3. Confuse a rookie quarterback. It shouldn’t matter who the quarterback is as rookie Kenny Pickett and veteran Mitchell Trubisky haven’t accomplished a lot. Pittsburgh has the thirtieth scoring offense at 16.2 factors a recreation and twenty ninth in whole yards at 291.5 a recreation. Bottom-line: This is the worst offense the Dolphins have confronted this season. It had a robust efficiency in opposition to Minnesota in giving up simply 11 first downs and 234 whole yards. They must be round these numbers in opposition to Pittsburgh. Pickett has solely had three profitable drives in his three video games: 82 yards in opposition to the Jets, 50 yards in opposition to the Bills and 66 yards in opposition to Tampa Bay (till leaving within the second half).
4. Tyreek Hill vs. Pittsburgh secondary. Every workforce besides Baltimore has one rule enjoying the Dolphins: Don’t let Hill beat you deep. Minkah Fitzpatrick is again together with Flores (don’t begin me on my dumbest-trade-in-Dolphins-history rant) and which means the Pittsburgh protection is healthier by an All-Pro security. The Steelers secondary has harm issues much like the Dolphins, although, with two different starters unsure. That brings us to Hill. Despite the eye on him, he’s averaging 8.2 catches and 116.8 yards in his first six video games – the type of blistering numbers that put him on tempo to have 1,986 yards receiving this season. The NFL document is 1,964 by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson in 2012. Yes, Johnson did it in 16 video games and this can be a 17-game season, however greatness is greatness. Hill is every little thing the Dolphins hoped in signing him. He’s been one of the best participant on the sector most video games and opened issues up for Jaylen Waddle, who’s due for a comeback recreation after two turnovers final week. Hill is the prime focus of this protection, however this protection’s secondary is harm. That ought to give a gap to a participant who grabs openings each week.
5. Don’t sleep on Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin’s on tempo for a Hall of Fame profession, and his groups get higher via the 12 months. This is a rebuilding 12 months for Pittsburgh, however Tampa was a 10-point highway favourite and misplaced final week. The Steelers protection was giving up 142 yards dashing the primary three weeks – it’s about 50 yards much less the previous couple of weeks. This begins a five-game run for the Dolphins the place they need to be favored every week. After not enjoying a workforce with a shedding document over these first six weeks, the Dolphins don’t play a workforce with a successful document over the subsequent 5 video games. With Tua again, the Dolphins can emerge from this 3-3 begin pointed to the playoffs in the event that they care for enterprise.
Prediction: Dolphins 20, Pittsburgh 13
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Source: www.bostonherald.com